Book on the Ramayana and the Yogasutras launched

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Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Subrahmanyam releasing the book at a function in Chennai on Thursday. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

The book titled Tale of Two Realities: Exploring the Mind Through Patanjali’s Yogasutras with Episodes from the Valmiki Ramayana, written by renowned author Lakshmi Devnath and published by Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), was launched on Thursday by Bharatanatyam exponent and guru Padma Subrahmanyam.

Respects were paid to Sanskrit scholar Mahamahopadhyaya R. Krishnamurthi Shastri who passed away recently.

Ms. Subrahmanyam said Ms. Devnath was a prolific writer and erudite scholar. The book revealed her mastery over the Ramayana and the Yogasutras.

Yogacharya S. Sridharan, who offered his respects to R. Krishnamurthi Shastri, said the scholar was the first member of the KYM’s board of studies and that he had left an indelible mark in the hearts of everyone who knew him.

Mr. Sridharan said the book was the product of over eight years of hard work and had overcome several hurdles. What started off as a Ph.D. thesis became a book. It was brought out as a series in the official magazine of Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Vedanta Kesari, in 2022. This is the first such book on the Ramayana and Yogasutras.

Oncologist S.G. Ramanan, who received one of the first copies of the book, said the author and her husband Devnath made regular contributions to Cancare. KYM CEO Swaminathan also spoke.

Ms. Devnath said the book has had quite an adventurous journey and she was a part of its roller coaster ride. She saidshe had written several chapters during hospital stays and that, in the battle between the bed and the book, it was always the book that won. She thanked Mr. Sridharan, Shastri and Dr. Ramanan and everyone including those who helped design the book, her husband, her daughters, assistants, and her 92-year-old father.

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